Parking charges in my local area have gone up 233% in a MONTH

An outraged motorist has complained after discovering his parking charges in a London street rose by nearly 250% in just a month.

Tony Gambrill paid £12.64 for 4 hours parking in London Bridge in March – but when he parked there again in April found the identical parking session now cost £29.20.

This represents an increase of 231% in four weeks – or around 20 times the current rate of inflation per year.

Tony, 58, said: ‘When people are struggling to make a living this is just incredibly insensitive – and it shows how out of touch councils can be. Had this been an increase in the price of a Mars bar or something, there would be outrage.’

The sales executive added: ‘To add insult to injury, when I complained to Southwark Council about this I got a response suggesting that this was somehow supposed to help the environment – rather than just ripping off ordinary people.’

In response, Southwark Councillor Catherine Rose, told MailOnline: ‘Our parking charges schemes reflect the impact cars have on our streets’

The response Mr Gambrill received reads: ‘The parking fees and charges have been set to encourage a reduction in overall vehicle numbers and a reduction in polluting vehicles in Southwark. This is in support of the Council’s Air Quality Action plan, the Climate Change Plan and The Movement Plan. These fees & charges were agreed by Cabinet and subject to scrutiny by full council.’

Receipts emailed to Mr Gamrill show his four hour session to park his Volvo SUV at Boss Street, off Tooley Street in London Bridge in the borough of Southwark on 21 March from 8.26am cost him £12.64.

When he returned exactly one month later – and four minutes later in the day – to the same spot to park, this time he was charged £29.20.

He told MailOnline: ‘I don’t drive in London for fun but because my living depends on it. I have a network of eight offices to get around, all across town,

‘I’ve noticed prices go up from say, five to six pounds an hour before but this just seemed ridiculous – for the amount to go up by more than two times in just a month.

‘I regularly drive and pay to park in multiple London boroughs – in Lambeth, where I live, in Southwark where this happened, as well as Tower Hamlets, Westminster, Camden, Kensington and Chelsea and so on.

‘And I don’t think I’ve ever come across pricing like this.

‘It seems prices are rising across the board but to put them up by this much is just crazy.

‘There was all kinds of outrage about the energy price rises but this increase is proportionally even higher.

‘And then they have the nerve to suggest that somehow this is meant to be environmentally friendly rather than just a way to fill coffers.’

Mr Gambrill has been left frustrated at the parking charge hike, and said that he does not think he has ‘ever come across pricing like this’

Mr Gambrill added: ‘I’ve since learned that there’s a private covered car park just a short distance from Boss Street where it’s £30 to park for 24 hours – so the amount Southwark is charging isn’t even realistic in terms of the market.

‘What are they going to do for revenue when people simply stop paying to park?’

In response, Southwark Councillor Catherine Rose, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks, Streets and Clean Air, told MailOnline: ‘The majority of our residents do not own or have access to a car. Our parking charges schemes reflect the impact cars have on our streets.

‘Parking permits and other charges are designed to assist vulnerable road users, prioritise resident parking and access for local businesses.

‘Parked cars take up valuable kerbside space that could be used for the other things people want on their streets. We have a range of parking discounts and exemptions for those who need them.

‘Many car journeys are short and can be done on foot or bike instead. We are investing in making walking and cycling easier for all those who can. Fewer car journeys will ease congestion, improve road safety and reduce air pollution.’